Tag Archives: curly hair

You’re Invited NYC: Curl Daze – A Curly Girl Collabo

Hey Rosés,

You are cordially invited to join my blogger buddy Natasha of Asili Glam and Antoinette & Shanti of Around The Way Curls for the must attend spring curly hair soiree:

Curl Daze: A Curly Girl Collabo!

On May 17th, from 8-11pm at Stash Lounge in NYC you can enjoy complimentary Ciroc cocktails, hair demos, product advice, and hear from top natural hair bloggers and hair stylists. You don’t want to miss the raffles and prizes like the Huetiful Steamerwhat is it… be there to find out!

Essence Magazine street style photographers will be on deck for photos and Mane Moves will film all the action. After you mix, mingle, swap and dance, you’ll be sent home with Gift Bags stocked with your favorite curly hair products like Karen’s Body Beautiful, Kinky Curly, JessiCurl & more!

Whether you are natural or transitioning, expert or confused, black, white, purple or orange, this natural hair celebration is for you!

After 11pm the party continues for guys, gals and all of your friends. Tell them to come dance and toast the good life!

Event Details:

Curl Daze – A Curly Girl Collabo
Date: Thursday May 17th
Time: 8-11pm
After Party 11pm – until
Location: Stash Lounge, 214 West 14th Street, Manhattan, NY

RSVP for the FREE Wait List: www.curldaze.eventbrite.com

 

Questions? Email: thechampagnebeauty@gmail.com or asiliglam@gmail.com. See you there!

Taste the beautiful life ~ Alicia

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Breaking Down the Beauty Sample Box Craze

Hey Rosés,

Image via Getty

Beauty junkies around the world rejoiced when companies and services popped up selling luxury beauty, body and lifestyle samples. With most of them starting as rewards programs or members-only sites, the subscription sample box craze has blown up from the most generic to offering customized solutions.

Sample boxes are a great way to discover new products, get travel-sized editions of your favorite products, and as I have recently experienced, excellent gift ideas. Most of these sites have great rewards and brand ambassador programs where you can accrue points for free gifts and discounted full-sized products.

L to R: Birchbox, Conscious Box, Crave Box

After meeting the founders of Birchbox, I was an early adopter of their monthly subscription service and continue to write reviews of their products for the sensitive skin and allergy crew. See January, February, and March.

There are new subscription services popping up every week, so find out which sample box works for your beauty and lifestyle needs:

(in alphabetical order – no preferences or endorsements here!)

 

Beauty Box 5

www.beautybox5.com

  • Breakdown: This company made a splash at the 2012 SXSW’s StyleX conference with their Tiffany blue boxes
  • Price: $12/monthly $30/quarterly $100 yearly
  • Products: Feature great local and international brands like Weleda, LA Fresh, and Supergoop

 

Birchbox

www.birchbox.com

  • Breakdown: Founded by two Harvard MBAs, one of the original beauty sample subscriptions features product customization and a full destination site for videos and tips.
  • Price: $10/month
  • Products: Luxury and mainstream brands include Ahava, Essie, Stila, Nars, Origins

 

Conscious Box

www.consciousbox.com

  • Breakdown: Environmentally conscious products from organic to vegan, including beauty, lifestyle and food.
  • Price: $12/monthly + $7 shipping, $33/quarterly + $7 shipping, $64/yearly + $7 shipping
  • Products: VerMints, Kind Bars, Honest Kids Tea, organic candles, natural lip balm

 

Crave Box

www.cravebox.com

  • Breakdown: Recently launched, goes beyond beauty to include items for hobbies, pets and home. They offer subscription boxes and limited editions that can be won.
  • Price: $10/monthly
  • Products: NYX mascara, Puristics eye treatment, Mercy recovery drinks

 

Curlbox

www.curlbox.com

  • Breakdown: The ultimate box for all things curly and natural hair. Packed with samples and full collections from mainstream and independent brands for all types of ethnic and curly hair.
  • Price: $20/monthly
  • Products: Hair Rules, Ouidad, Shea Moisture, Karen’s Body Beautiful

 

Glossybox USA

www.glossybox.com

  • Breakdown: This British sensation is set to launch soon in the U.S.
  • Price: TBA
  • Products: Global brands include Dermalogica, Chloé, Clarins, Bobbi Brown

 

The Look Bag

www.thelookstore.com/thelookbag

  • Breakdown: Online beauty shop TheLookStore.com partnered with celebrity beauty therapist Damone Roberts to bring customized picks. The Look Bag subscribers also receive 20% off The Look Store’s shop.
  • Price: $10/month
  • Products: Top picks from Damone Roberts include Cattiva, S.S. Soap, Frownies

 

Sample Society

www.beautybar.com/samplesociety

  • Breakdown: Recently launched venture between beautybar.com and Allure Magazine
  • Price: $15/month
  • Products: 5 deluxe-sized samples from beauty brands like Murad, Stila, and Oscar de la Renta fragrance. Includes 1-year Allure subscription.

 

What are your favorite beauty sample subscription services?

Taste the beautiful life ~ Alicia

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New Curl On The Block: My Miss Jessie’s CurlBar Haircut

Hey Rosés,

 
Wall and vanity of Miss Jessie’s Original Products at CurlBar

A few weeks ago I attended the grand opening party for curly hair experts Miko and Titi Branch’s latest project, the Miss Jessie’s CurlBar Salon. The salon is a beautiful French parlor-style loft in Soho. They use their award winning products and I couldn’t wait to get an appointment!

Salon owners Miko and Titi Branch

On a sunny day, I was greeted by the friendly Miss Jessie’s staff who escorted me into the brightly lit salon and served me fresh hors d’oeuvres (cheese, crackers and curls…yum!). Next they gave me a full consultation explaining their services, products and a multitude of options. I picked the “Wash and Go” cut and style – see more details on that below.

 

Before pic: shaggy uneven hair, split ends

The Miss Jessie’s process includes first blowdrying hair straight (you can opt for a curly cut too), then trimming ends. They have a full look book (more like a curly hair bible!) where you can view real women with textures like yours, and simply point to what style you’d like. Next they do a full shampoo and condition with their award winning eponymous products, then style your hair after drying.

Each person’s routine and products will be custom to you, but here’s a breakdown of the “Wash and Go” transformation they gave me:

1. Blowdry hair straight using fingers and paddle brush

Blowdried hair: Didn’t even recognize myself with straight hair!

2. Trim ends in sections

3. Cleanse hair with Super Slip Sudsy Shampoo

4. Cleanse hair with Crème de la Curl (no suds, sulfate free shampoo)

5. Condition with Super Sweetback conditioner

6. Work through leave-in cream in sections by lightly pulling and stretching individual wet curls – use Curly Meringue for soft hold and definition

7. Place under a hood dryer

8. After hair is dry work through Baby Buttercreme for extra moisture and shape hair with a wide-tooth comb and fingers

After pic: defined conditioned curls, structured shape

Other services include two-strand twist outs, coil outs, a variety of curly styling and up-do’s, and smooth blowouts. My style lasted four days without any water or additional product! It was smooth, moisturized and easy to wear as is or add more styling. I simply wore a bonnet to bed and scrunched in the morning.

Prices are VERY reasonable, and you can purchase the entire product collection in-store. The products are made with quality ingredients free of heavy and dangerous toxins.

Get an appointment ASAP! Tell them Alicia from Champagne Beauty sent you!

Miss Jessie’s Salon
441 Broadway, Suite 2
(Between Grand & Howard)
New York, NY 10013
Monday through Friday from 10am-6pm

To Book Appointments Contact:
212.966.5600
Walk-ins Welcome!

What are your favorite Miss Jessie’s products?

Taste the beautiful life ~ Alicia

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Product Review: March Birchbox

Hey Rosés,

This month Birchbox teamed up with Teen Vogue for a fun, playful and spring formal event-prep box of samples. Teen Vogue’s beauty guru Eva Chen also provided great makeup and hair tips for special occasions and everyday glam. Great sensitive skin and allergy-friendly brands like Tarte and Essie return with bright colors for spring. There were also great alternatives for the sporty girls, and anyone transitioning from processed hair to natural hair.

Take a look at some great finds for your next special event or to add a pop of color:

 

Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint in Lucky

Champagne Rating: 4 out of 5 bottles

 

 

 

I was looking for a pale pink matte, and this came just in time! The giant crayon glides on smoothly with a texture in between a lip balm and matte lipstick. It has moisturizing vitamins A & E with a hint of color, clicks to refill (no pencil sharpener needed), and so sheer it actually looks nude. Perfect to wear alone or a great primer for lipstick or lip gloss. Be forewarned the strong peppermint oil smell and tingle, but has a sensitive skin-friendly formula: paraben free, sulfate free, mineral oil free.

Ingredients for Lucky: Octyldodecanol, candelilla cera/euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) wax/cire de candelilla, C12-15 alkyl ethylhexanoate, isopropyl palmitate, cyclopentasiloxane, silica, nylon -12, VP/eicosene copolymer, copernicia cerifera (carnauba) wax /cera carnauba/cire de carnauba, phenyl trimethicone, disteardimonium hectorite, hydrogenated coco-glycerides, mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, caprylic/ capric triglyceride, propylene carbonate, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, dimethicone, caprylyl glycol, sorbitan stearate, benzophenone-3, tocopheryl acetate, sodium saccharin, castor oil bis-hydroxypropyl dimethicone esters, retinyl palmitate, salicornia herbacea extract, dimethyl isosorbide, palmitoyl hexapeptide-14, tin oxide, mica. (+/-): Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), iron oxides (CI 77489, CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), red 6 lake & red 7 lake (CI 15850), red 27 lake (CI 45410), red 40 lake (CI 16035), yellow 5 lake (CI 19140), yellow 6 lake (CI 15985), blue 1 lake (CI 42090).

 

Kate Spade New York Perfume in Twirl

Champagne Rating: 4 out of 5 bottles

 

 

Twirl is the perfect name for this scent, it’s a mixture of flirty and fun with fruit and floral notes. Light enough to wear during the day for work or brunch, yet stimulating for wear in the evening for cocktails or a date. Each spray makes me want to dance, either with a cupcake or a cutie ;-)

Ingredients: alchohol denat, parful/fragrance, water/aqua/eu, propylene glycol, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, butylphenyl methylpropional, citral, citronellol, farnesol, geraniol, hexyl, cinnamal, hydroxycitonellal, hyrdoxyisohexyl, 3-cyclohexene carbonxaldhyde, limonene, linalool, butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, ethylhexyl, methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl salicylate, orange 4 (ci 15510), yellow 10 (ci 47005)

 

Kérastase Elixir Ultime

Champagne Rating: 3 out of 5 bottles

 

 

This nourishing oil can be used as a leave-in conditioner or pre-blowout heat protectant, but I used it as a shine serum on curly hair. It’s thick but not greasy or heavy. It smoothed top-side frizz and added a hint of shine when applied to dry curly hair.

Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Zea Mays / Corn Germ Oil, Argania Spinosa Oil / Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Camellia Kissi / Camellia Kissi Seed Oil, Pentaclethra Macroloba Oil / Pentaclethra Macroloba Seed Oil, Linalool, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Limonene, Coumarine, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum / Fragrance.

 

Twistband Hair Tie

Champagne Rating: 3 out of 5 bottles

 

 

This fun evolution of the hair tie causes little breakage and maintains elasticity even when wet after the gym. It did leave a dent on curly hair, perhaps straight hair has better luck. Great for rosés transitioning from perms to natural hair, and athletes who don’t want breakage after a workout.

Ingredients: N/A

 

Essie LuxeEffects Collection in Set In Stones

Champagne Rating: 4 out of 5 bottles

 

 

Wear this glitter nail polish alone for a silver disco ball effect or as a top coat for a blast of bling. The formula is free of formaldehyde, toluene and DBP. Great for sensitive skin, and safer with out toxic chemicals. I’ve tried plenty of glittery nail polishes and this is one of the easier ones to get off without having to scrape your nails.

Ingredients: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Isopropyl Alcohol, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Polyethylene Terephthalate, Silica, N-Butyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate-4, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Benzophenone-1, Polyurethane-11, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate [+/- May Contain / Peut Contenir, Ci 77891 / Titanium Dioxide, Ci 15850 / Red 7 Lake, Ci 77000 / Aluminum Powder, Ci 19140 / Yellow 5 Lake, Ci 60725 / Violet 2

 

What is your must have for a formal spring event?

Taste the beautiful life ~ Alicia

*All images via Birchbox
*All Items can be purchased on Birchbox for a discount with membership

 

 

 

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4 DIY Beauty And Body T’ings From Jamaica

Hey Rosés,

 

Last week I got an early start to spring with a long weekend in Jamaica. Whiskey Ginger surprised me with a trip to the turquoise seas and white sand beaches of Negril! While relaxing on the beach and doing my best dutty wine at night, I was inspired by all of the natural beauty around me, and determined to recreate at home.

Take a look at 4 beauty and body t’ings I found in Jamaica and how to do-it-yourself at home:

 

1. Sand Exfoliates Your Feet

After just 5 minutes of walking on the sandy beach, my feet were transformed from Jack Frost dry to baby skin smooth. Even when we got our beachside massages, the dust of sand on our bodies mixed with oil called for a great body scrub.

 

DIY: Mix baking soda with your favorite face or body wash

Baking soda a.k.a. sodium bicarbonate is a product that can be used EVERYWHERE. In addition to exfoliating your skin, it’s known for clearing acne, balancing hair’s PH and removing dandruff.

 

 

2. Waterfall Mist + Humidity = Natural Moisture

At YS Waterfalls in the jungle, atop the hidden lagoons were beautiful small and large waterfalls cascading to underground springs. The soft mist from the falls gave my skin incredible moisture and kept it hydrated even while we hiked and rode the zipline.

DIY: Mix a few drops of witch hazel with water in a spray bottle

Witch hazel is a natural astringent that is nectar to anyone with eczema, psoriasis or rosacea. It cleanses and conditions skin without removing natural oils, and can even be used to refresh existing make-up.

 

3. Beach Hair Blowout

I LOVE my naturally curly hair at the beach. The humidity kept it soft and the sun air-dried it quickly. The strong winds gave my curls volume and actually stretched them out to new lengths. Even though I usually go for a smoother curls, I liked the ruffled look adding to my “curly hair don’t care” attitude!

DIY: Volume & Length: Mix a volumizing foam with your favorite curly/straightening cream and blowdry hair upside down

Attach a comb (straight hair) or diffuser head (curly hair) to your blow dryer. Flip your head upside down, lightly pull your curls or brush through your strands in sections as you blowdry. Gravity will stretch your curls “up,” giving the effect of more volume.

 

4. Soothe Heat Rash From The Heat Blast

Not only does the intense sun cause wrinkles, it can create itchy dry sun-burned patches “heat rash.” In just 3 days, my skin went from bronzed sun goddess to skin so sunburned and bumpy it looked like braille. To combat the sun’s damage ALWAYS use sunscreen, and to soothe any after-burns or rash, try this:

DIY: Buy an aloe vera plant and apply to burns

Nature is best served…natural. Throw out your store-bought aloe gel and get a potted aloe plant. Aloe can be a soothing ointment but also drying gel, so mix it with shea butter and a little water to make a lighter lotion consistency and use this under any lotions or make up. It will comfort your burns and provide a light primer.

 

Where is your next vacation?

Taste the beautiful life ~ Alicia

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